The Darlington NASCAR race doesn’t need much to spark chaos. And this time, it was a clash between two rising names that lit the fuse. Driving for 23XI Racing, Riley Herbst found himself at the center of controversy after contact from Connor Zilisch sent him spinning late in the race.
The incident unfolded on Lap 197 as Zilisch got into the back of Herbst exiting Turn 4 while battling around 18th position. The contact turned Herbst into the inside wall, bringing out a caution and derailing what had already been a challenging run. Over the radio, Herbst’s immediate reaction said it all: “What the f**k?”
To his credit, Zilisch didn’t shy away from responsibility. The young driver quickly owned up over the radio, saying, “That’s my fault. Sorry. Tell the 35 I said sorry … I just misjudged. He just got a little loose, and I was already committed.” It was a clear-cut admission in a moment where many might have deflected blame.
Riley Herbst gets spun by Connor Zilisch: “What the fuck?”
He is told a message got relayed of: “Sorry. He misjudged it.”
Herbst: “Tell him to go fuck himself.”
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 22, 2026
But apologies don’t always land in the heat of the moment.
Herbst, still reeling from the spin and the damage, wasn’t ready to hear it. His response came just as bluntly: “Tell him to go f**k himself.” By that point, the damage was done. He dropped to 33rd, one lap down, with little chance of recovery.
It was a classic Darlington NASCAR race moment. There was tight racing, razor-thin margins, and emotions boiling over in seconds.
And while both drivers showed different sides of the same incident, with one owning the mistake, and the other venting frustration, it’s another reminder that at the “Too Tough to Tame,” even the next generation isn’t immune to losing their cool.
